NEWSLETTER
Sept/Oct 2005
Volume Fifteen
In this Issue of:
FINDING LOST SOULS
NEW VIDEO RELEASE!
This Journey by video may change your life forever...
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NEWSLETTER Sept/October 2005 VOLUME FIFTEEN
INDEPENDENT CHURCH IN INDIA PO BOX 238 FREDERICKSBURG, PA 17026
website: www.indchurch.org email:info@indchurch.org
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PAGE 6
Reaching the Lost in India (the third day cont)
After church we went to the government hospital in Dindigul. The government hospital is a large compound with many old and graying buildings. People were standing around on the street watching all the goings on and they stared as our van went to the very back of the compound where those with leprosy live. Leprosy is a horrible disease that leaves many of its victims without fingers and toes, with open and gaping wounds. It also renders many blind. The problem with the government hospital is that it is not a permanent home for these people. They can only stay for 3 months and then they have to leave. All of them have been abandoned by their families because leprosy is the disease of the untouchables. So these precious children of God have no place to go once they are forced to leave. They end up literally living on the street, begging for their daily food. They have no hope at all in the world.
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Pastor Britto and Kristi praying
for a woman with leprosy.
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We stopped the van where about 25 lepers had gathered, waiting for us. Each week the ministry team of the Independent Church in India visits the government hospital to minister to the lepers. Many of the lepers have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. They told us that they had been listening to Gospel For Asia radio every morning at 5:00am to hear the word of God. Even though their lives are full of misery, there is a glimmer of hope in their eyes. We shared again the Good News about Jesus Christ with them.
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We also gave them compassion packs prepared by the ministry team. The compassion packs consist of a vinyl bag for carrying belongings, a blanket, a towel, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, cookies, a New Testament, and a (handing out compassion packs) new pair of sandals.
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Kristi handing out leprosy compassion packs to the new lepers at the government hospital.
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Giving the elderly man a leprosy
compassion pack.
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Among the lepers that day was a man we had met on the road the day before. We were driving in the town of Dindigul when we saw a man who looked to be about 80 years old but was probably more like 60. He had on a dirty white robe and had a wicker basket on his head. He also had a staff in his hand. Pastor Richard and Pastor Britto recognized him as a leper but they had never seen him before. He walked so slowly and laboriously, as if he hadn't a friend in the world. We pulled over and called him to our van. They began to speak to him and told him to go to the government hospital on Sunday to meet them. So we were very glad (the man we met on the road) to see he was among the people that day.
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We gave him a compassion pack and told him about the love of Jesus Christ. We also gave him new sandals for his toe-less feet and some money so he could eat that day. He was not living at the hospital but was living on the streets. When we finished speaking and handing out the packs, this man came to us with a glimmer in his eye. He said he would be back the following Sunday and he was so very thankful for all we had given him. When he walked away from us, there was almost a skip in his step. He had a new hope now, a hope he didn't have before. That hope is Jesus!
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A glimmer of hope in
a leper's eyes.
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The vision God has given Lowell and Kathy Smith, and the Independent Church in India, is to build a permanent place for people with leprosy to live. This would be like a leper colony, where the people could stay as long as they needed. It would be self-sufficient with a big garden where those who were still able to work could take pride in growing their own food. The people would have a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables; they would receive medical care free of charge from a young person studying medicine in the Dindigul church. They would grow crops that they could sell in the market place to help earn their keep. Most of all, they would be discipled in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. They would be surrounded by people who loved and cared for them. They would be someone of value and worth. The need for the building of this home is urgent! These people need a place to live. These people need the church in America to take an interest in them and to help provide for their needs. I promised the lepers that day that I would personally make sure that the churches in America gave unselfishly so that we could start construction on their new home. I am praying that the Lord will use me in this way. It would be my highest honor.
This was my last day with Pastor Britto and Pastor Richard. I had seen the orphanage; witnessed in the remote villages; and met with the lepers. My final thought is this: the church in America has become blinded by our comfy-cozy lifestyle. We really do have it very easy. We almost view it as a 'chore' to read our Bible and pray every day. We have completely forgotten our brothers and sisters in need. I am just as guilty as the next person. No, we can't all go off to India to preach the gospel. I don't consider my family 'rich' by any means, but truly we do not know just how very rich we are compared to the people in India and other countries around the world where just eating one meal a day is a struggle. WE CAN HELP our brothers and sisters in India! We can help build orphanages, we can help build churches, and we can build leper homes. We can provide fuel for ministry vehicles, we can pay for printing Bibles and other gospel literature in native languages, and we can build wells for villages where the Christians aren't allowed to use the village well. We can provide bicycles for pastors in very remote places. WE CAN HELP! And I believe it is our duty to help wherever we can. If you do anything after reading this letter, I ask you to pray and tell the Lord you are willing to be used if He is willing to use you. I know He will answer'and you will never regret it...
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